Device for holding spectacles in a mask

ABSTRACT

A FRICTION MEMBER IS SUPPORTED FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT BEHIND THE WINDOW OF A MASK FACE PIECE, IN WHICH THE DEVICE CAN BE MOUNTED, AND IS PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING EXTENDING FORWARD FROM ITS REAR SIDE. A SPECTACLES FRAME BEHIND THR FRICTIN MEMBER IS PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL SUPPORT THAT EXTENDS FORWARD INTO THE FRICTION MEMBER OPENING SO THAT THE FRAME CAN BE ADJUSTED FORWARD AND BACKWARD.

Feb. 16, 1971 w s ETAL DEVICE FOR HOLDING SPECTACLES IN A MASK 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aqg. 12. 1968 INVENTORS. LAYTOA/ A. W/SE ELME/Q E.BUBAA/ amwwm 5 Feb. 16, 1971 w|5E ETAL 3,563,640

DEVICE FOR HOLDING SPECTACLES IN A MASK Filed Aug. 12, 1968 2Sheets-Sheet 2 1/ 7 U1 ll 4/ I INVENTORS.

1 4/0 70 ,4. WISE I 54,145 E. 5054M v v I ,vmfiwm ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,563,640 DEVICE FOR HOLDING SPECTACLES IN A MASKLayton A. Wise, Washington, and Elmer E. Buban, Pittsburgh, Pa.,assignors to Mine Safety Appliances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 751,864 Int.Cl. G02c 3/02 US. Cl. 351-458 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Afriction member is supported for vertical adjustment behind the windowof a mask face piece, in which the device can be mounted, and isprovided with an opening extending fonward from its rear side. Aspectacles frame behind the friction member is provided with a centralsupport that extends forward into the friction member opening so thatthe frame can be adjusted forward and backward.

It is not possible for the wearer of a breathing mask to wear spectaclesthat are provided with the usual temples which extend back over theears, because the temples will hold side portions of the face piece awayfrom the sides of the head and thereby permit the mask to leak. In viewof this, it is the usual practice to provide spectacles with stubtemples that can be slipped into bosses on the inside of the face piece.Although this is satisfactory as far as supporting the spectacles isconcerned, it requires the face piece to be modified in order to provideit with the templereceiving bosses.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a device forholding spectacles in a mask, which does not require any change in theconstruction of the mask, which is simple and inexpensive, which can bequickly and easily attached to the mask or removed from it, and whichpermits the spectacles to be adjusted up and down and also forward andbackward.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a front view of the spectaclesholding device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a mask, partly broken away in central verticalsection to show the device in section; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section of a mask, lookingdown on the device therein.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a spring wire 1 is bent midwaybetween its ends to form a central downwardly extending loop 2 that hassubstantially parallel spaced sides. The portions of the wire extendingin opposite directions away from the upper end of the loop are curveddownwardly and rearwardly to conform to the top and sides of the wall ofa window opening in the front of a mask face piece 3, as shown in FIG.2. The window opening contains a window 4 that bows forward. Theopposite ends of the curved spring wire can be pressed toward each othersufliciently to allow the wire to be inserted in the window openingdirectly behind the window and in engagement with it. When the ends arereleased, the wire will straighten out sli htly 3,563,640 Patented Feb.16, 1971 against the wall of the opening and hold itself in place.

The upper end of the wire loop 12 is offset a slight distance rearwardlyfrom the window to space the loop farther from it, and the sides of theloop extend downwardly more or less vertically. The lower end portion ofthe loop may be bent forward to engage the window so that both ends ofthe loop will engage the window and be steadied by it. If desired, theportions of the (wire in engagement with the window can be coated with aplastic to help prevent scratching the glass.

Supported by the wire loop is a friction member 6, which for bestresults is made of an elastic material such as rubber or the like. Thismember is adjustable up and down the loop. For this purpose the frictionmember preferably is a block provided with passages 7 extending throughit from top to bottom. The sides of the loop extend through thesepassages and frictionally engage their side walls. The ends of the blockmay be slit inwardly to the passages to permit the sides of the loop tobe inserted laterally in them.

The friction block also is provided with at least one opening extendingforward in it from its rear side. Preferably, there are two suchopenings 9 extending in parallel relation entirely through the blockbetween the sides of the wire loop. These openings receive a support fora spectacles frame 10. Most suitably, as shown in FIG. 2, this supportis. a U-shape member having parallel prongs 11 integrally connected attheir rear ends by a cross piece 12 that is welded to the bridge of theframe. Of course, the frame is capable of receiving lenses 13 ground tothe prescription of the wearer of the mask.

With this invention it will be seen that the prongs 11 of the framesupport can be inserted in the forwardly extending openings 9 in theelastic block a distance that will hold the spectacles the correctdistance in front of the eyes of the wearer. By sliding the block up ordown the wire loop, the spectacles also can be located in the correctvertical position. Both adjustments are easily made. No modification ofthe face piece is required, because the spring wire has a friction fitWithin the window opening. The spectacles have no temples to supportthem or to interfere with the face piece seal.

According to the provisions of the patent statues, we have explained theprinciple of our invention and have illustrated and described what wenow consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire tohave it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustratedand described.

We claim:

1. A device for holding the lenses of spectacles behind the window of amask facepiece, the device comprising a friction block having a rearside, means including'a pair of laterally spaced substantially verticalwires adapted to be mounted in a facepiece for supporting the blockbehind its window, said block having a pair of passages extendingtherethrough from top to bottom receiving said vertical wires infrictional engagement with the block to permit the block to be adjustedvertically on said wires, the block being provided with an openingextending forward therein from its rear side, a spectacles frame behindsaid member, and a frame support secured rigidly to the central portionof said frame and extending forward into said block opening infrictional engagement with the block, whereby the frame can be adjustedsubstantially horizontally toward and away from the block as well asvertically with the block along said vertical wires.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said friction block is anelastic member and said opening extends past said passage.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which said friction block isprovided with a pair of said openings, and said frame support includes apair of prongs disposed in said openings.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which said supporting means includea spring wire curved to fit against the top and sides of the facepiecewindow opening, said wire being bent centrally to provide a downwardlyextending loop having substantially parallel sides, and said verticalpassages in said friction block receiving said loop sides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,713 11/1945 'Schutz et al351-158UX 2,905,172 9/1959 Rodenhouse 12814l 2,842,029 7/1958 Roth35155X 2,962,722 12/1960 Curran 35l155X 10 DAVID SCHONBERG, PrimaryExaminer J. W. LEONARD, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

